GAA Club Newsletter - August 2011 Edition

Introduction

Welcome to the August edition of the GAA Club Nuachtlitir.

With both our Football and Hurling Championships in full swing at the moment I would like to highlight how successful our games have been this summer as we try to make the day out to Croke Park as fun as possible for all the family.

Already thousands of GAA supporters in Croke Park have been given the opportunity to have their picture taken with the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups in our new Fanzone outside the GAA Museum on the Cusack Stand side of the stadium – giving them the perfect memento to remember their day by.

There have also been live pitch-side interviews played on our big screens before games and at half-time, with well-known GAA personalities and supporters plucked from the crowd.

I also remind our members that a special club offer of just €10 is available exclusively to GAA club members for All-Ireland semi-finals and is activated when 15-50 club members request their tickets by email through their Club secretary (terms and conditions apply).

Once again I’d like to thank Clubs for distributing the newsletter to their members. Should you have any feedback, please feel free to contact our Communications Department through queries@gaa.ie.

Is Mise le meas,

Lisa Clancy,Director of CommunicationsCumann Lúthchleas Gael

ASAP PROGRAMME

The new National Coordinator for the ASAP (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention) Programme, Colin Regan, has taken up his position and is available to all clubs for advice and support in the area.

As per the GAA’s Strategic Vision and Policy Action Plan 2009-2015 all clubs are required to put in place a Drugs and Alcohol policy.

A number of ASAP information evenings will be held around the country over the autumn and winter months, details will be released at a later date.

The ASAP manual provides a step-by-step guide to drawing up a club Drug and Alcohol policy while a sample policy is also available directly to clubs (see below for contact details).

To date over 1,500 clubs have ASAP officers in place. If your club doesn’t and you would like some support in putting someone in place, again contact Colin Regan (087-2945705 / colin.regan@gaa.ie) or your county ASAP officer for assistance and advice.

Picture above: Tyrone club ASAP officers at a recent county meeting organised by County Officer Cuthbert Donnelly, with special guest Mickey Harte and new National Coordinator Colin Regan.

MCNAMEE AWARDS

The winners of the 2010 McNamee Awards were confirmed by the GAA at the start of July. These awards recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals and Association units in the area of media and communications.

Two clubs successfully picked up awards this year with St. Gall's of Antrim winning the Best GAA Publication and the Clann na Gael club in Armagh winning the Best GAA Website.

The awards were presented by Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana, at a function in Croke Park on July 8.

GAA PLAYING GEAR RULES CLARIFICATION

We have had a number of queries from clubs who have been approached by unlicensed companies offering to supply playing gear to GAA teams, and claiming it is not in breach of GAA rules to do so.GAA Rule 1.17 states that all jerseys used in official matches must display the GAA's official logo and that any team in breach of this rule may be liable to disqualification and/or loss of expenses.The following are the only companies licensed to supply official GAA playing gear: O' Neill’s: 01 4293500; Azzurri: 051 850066; Masita: 046 9241595; Intosport: 056 4441652.

Should you have any further queries on this please email: marketing@gaa.ie

GAA TICKETING

The GAA have teamed up with SuperValu and Centra to make tickets available via selected stores.

New stores will be added on a weekly basis over the next few weeks. To find a store near you that currently sells match tickets please click here.

Tickets for the two All-Ireland Football semi-finals are also currently on sale and available to buy by clicking here. The GAA Ticket Office is also open on Dorset Street, Dublin during the week and on matchdays.

We also take this opportunity to remind clubs of a special offer we have available to our Club members. Tickets can be purchased for just €10 when 15-50 club members request their tickets by email through their Club secretary to tickets@gaa.ie (terms and conditions apply).

NEW FEATURES ON GAA.IE

As our All-Ireland series draws ever-closer to the grand finale, the GAA Communications Department would like to draw your attention to a number of on-going developments that make sure you can keep up to date with every piece of the action at the touch of a button on www.gaa.ie

• The GAA’s weekly online show ‘Round the Square’ continues to excite and you can watch each episode by going to http://tv.gaa.ie every Thursday at lunchtime.• GAA.ie’s official championship columnists Anthony Rainbow (Kildare) and Ollie Canning (Galway) continue to contribute their unique insights every Friday.• The GAA also has an official Twitter page which is a convenient way to keep informed on GAA news, latest scores and results. You can follow this at http://twitter.com/officialgaa• On big match day’s our live ‘Match Tracker’ section allows gaa.ie users follow how the action is unfolding while there are also official GAA Apps available on iPhone, Nokia and Android phones available to download.

FÉILE PEILE NA NÓG CORCAIGH 2011 A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The Féile Peile parade on Thursday, June 30th, involved all 181 participating teams from all over the country.

The 10 finals took place in the sunshine of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Páirc Uí Rínn. The Roinn 1 title went to Ballymun Kickams of Dublin at the expense of local side St. Finbarrs. St Enda’s of Antrim won Division Two while St. Eunan’s of Donegal claimed the Division Three decider.

In Division Four, Moyle Rovers from Tipperary emerged victorious, O’Loughlin Gaels from Kilkenny secured the Division Five title and Cork’s Ballinora took the Division Six honours.

In the Girls competition Claregalway were crowned Division One champions, while in the other respective competitions there were also wins for Ferbane (Offaly), Lurgan (Cavan) and Dungarvan of Waterford.

Féile Peile Corcaigh concluded with the traditional handing over of the Féile National Flag to the 2012 hosts Laois.

Well done to all the clubs who took part and helped to make it such a resounding success.

Pictured Above are members of the Bantry GAA club with Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana

VHI CÚL CAMPS KIDS COULD FILL CROKE PARK

Picture this: Every seat in Croke Park not to mention Hill 16 filled to capacity with kids decked out in their Cúl Camp strips. That would make quite a picture.

Well an anticipated 80,000 kids will have passed through the 2011 Vhi Cúl Camps by the time they conclude in two weeks: the equivalent of a full-house at HQ on All-Ireland Sunday. As ever it was our Clubs who made this possible.

The organisation involved in the successful running of the camps at 1,060 venues nationally and internationally is testament to the work of the Provincial Games Managers and County coordinators of this mammoth project as well as the Club volunteers.

So credit where credit is due and a big “bualadh bos” to everyone who helped to make our summer camps all around the country so successful again.

Pic above: Participants and parents at one of Roscommon's successful Vhi Cúl Camps

WHEN CROKE PARK DREAMS COME TRUE

Two U12 club teams from Dublin and Tyrone, St. Judes and Carrickmore, experienced the honour of playing in Croke Park during the All-Ireland quarter-final match between the two counties at HQ on August 6. Below is a personal account from James McGurk, Carrickmore GFC, recalling just what the opportunity meant to him and his club.

James McGurk, Carrickmore GFC

The experience I had was one of proudest moments of my life. After we had put our kits on and before we went back up to the stand, we went out to the pitch to get our photograph taken. I felt proud to be wearing my Carrickmore jersey in Croke Park.

When the time came to go down to the tunnel, it was my dream coming true. When we walked out I tried not to look at the crowd but I couldn’t resist it. For most of the match I wasn’t really playing football but just lost in awe of how lucky I was to be playing at Croke Park. I know our match wasn’t that long but it was amazing to play at Croke Park. It was one of the best moments of my life.

Pictured above is James McGurk in action for his club in Croke Park.

INSURANCE

Insurance & Injury Scheme

The GAA Injury scheme is entirely self-funded from GAA finances via team subscriptions and 6% of gate receipts from inter-county fixtures.

Members who have in place a private health cover or personal accident cover are reminded that they must first claim under this cover. The injury scheme will reimburse otherwise unrecoverable expenses under such policies up to the scheme limit.

Annual payments out of the fund determine the team subscription rate. Therefore savings made in payments out under the scheme will better enable the Insurance Work Group to reduce team subscription costs to units.

All units are reminded that referees and match officials are covered by the injury scheme. If a referee is injured at a fixture the host club/ground should complete a notification and submit it in the normal manner.

VHI Cúl camps are covered by the injury scheme. The host club is responsible for completing and submitting the notification. Page 1 & 2 are required for the initial notification. Units hosting a non VHI Cúl camp are reminded that they are not covered by the injury scheme or public liability unless permission is obtained and granted by the relevant county board and GAA Risk and Insurance Manager.

Current GAA Player Injury Scheme coverage information and claim form can be accessed on gaa.ie under clubzone.

Club fundraising activities

Clubs are reminded that fundraising activities which take place on public highways are not automatically covered under the Association’s liability Insurance. Prior notification must be given to GAA Risk & Insurance Manager sinead.quinn@gaa.ieAll clubs should have a current Health & Safety Statement in place.

Development works at properties

If a club is undertaking major development works at a property by direct labour cover is not automatic under existing Liability Insurance. Notification in advance must be given to Sinéad Quinn - sinead.quinn@gaa.ie

Break In - Thefts at properties

Unfortunately the current economic climate has seen an increase in the occurrence of break ins and thefts across the country. Criminal gangs are targeting organisations in particular where they perceive there may be large sums of cash. Please be extra vigilant in the manner in which ticket money / bar takings / income from fundraising is handled by members. Large sums of cash should not be stored at properties and never in the dwelling of a member where their family may be put at risk.

If you have any further concerns or require any additional guidance to any of the above please contact Sinéad Quinn - sinead.quinn@gaa.ie

CROKE PARK LEINSTER AND ULSTER ACTIVITY DAYS PROVE A HIT

Over the course of two weeks in July, Croke Park played host to thousands of children as Ulster and Leinster GAA staged activity days for young children in their respective provinces.

With six Go Games pitches lined out, Croke Park was a hive of activity – accommodating almost 120 children per hour at either Football or Hurling.

This unforgettable experience afforded to the young players, from different clubs all over the provinces, included preparing for the games in the stadium’s dressing rooms and concluded with each team lifting a cup at the presentation area in the Hogan Stand afterwards.

FEVER PITCH REACHES CROKE PARK

Club members across the country and beyond are invited to attend the first ever FeverPitch Pre Football Final Bash taking place on the eve of the All-Ireland football final in Croke Park on Saturday, September 17th, at 7pm.

Monaghan musician Ryan Sheridan will be accompanied by Royseven and other Irish acts, while event MC on the night will be Hector Ó hEochagáin. The comedy segment of the show will be spearheaded by Neil Delamere, Fred Cooke and Colm O’Regan.

The evening will also include a GAA legends section involving Jimmy Magee and Peter Canavan amongst others who will offer a unique football twist to proceedings with analysis of the final to follow the day after.

Tickets are available through crokepark.ie and gaa.ie along with a full run down of the evening’s events.

YOUR CLUB COULD WIN €25,000 FROM ULSTER BANK

It’s not easy making ends meet in the current economic climate and club facilities can often suffer when money is tight. However, the new Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative is designed to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Aimed at bringing local communities together to carry out improvements to their GAA club facilities over the October Bank Holiday Weekend (October 29th & 30th), your club could benefit from a makeover support package worth €25,000 (or the Stg equivalent).

Simply register on line at www.ulsterbank.com/gaa before August, 19, 2011, to be in with a chance to win this fantastic prize. There will also be four regional runner-up prizes to the value of €5k (Stg equivalent) on offer along with the first 100 clubs to register receiving €100.

When registering including details of your club’s plans for a makeover, the role of the club in the local community, the benefits the makeover will have for both the club and wider community and uploading at least two photos of the club. Terms and conditions apply.